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05 DEC 1.doc CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on December 1, 2005 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Alderman Howard delivered the invocation and Mayor Swaim led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Lewis, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Twitty, and Howard answered roll call. Mayor Swaim also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT nine (9), ABSENT (1). Aldermen Fletcher was absent. Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Deputy Clerk Kary Jezwinski, Human Resource Director Charlie Brown, Finance Director Paul Mushrush, City Engineer Jay Whisker, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof, Battalion Chief Joe Bratton, Police Chief Robert Baker, Parks and Recreation Director George Biggs, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Mrs. Judy Swaim, Mrs. Edith Smith, Mrs. Sandra Sansing, Mrs. Lendy Lewis, Mrs. Addie Gibson, Mr. Larry Dupree, Mr. Larry Smith, interested citizens and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Swaim presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of November 17, 2005 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Howard that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of 3 November 2005 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to approve the Regular Monthly Report for October 2005 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, which reflects a fire loss of $98,300 and a savings total of $193,700. ROLL CALL: Aldermen Elliott, Smith, Lewis, Sansing, Rinker, Fletcher, Stroud, Twitty, and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: a. RESOLUTION 586 (#7-05) 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE FORMATION OF A TASK FORCE TO REVIEW THE PULASKI COUNTY JAIL OPERATIONS, FUNDING, AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LONG-TERM FUNDING AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS OF THE PULASKI COUNTY JAIL; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Mayor Swaim stated that Resolution 586 regarding situations involving the Pulaski County Jail, as previously discussed, is a recommendation for a task force to review the operations, funding and to offer recommendations for long-term funding and operations of the jail. Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to read Resolution 586. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read Resolution 586. Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve Resolution 586. MOTION CARRIED. b. DRAFT presentation of the 2006 City Budget Mayor Swaim noted that it is customary for the City Council to review the budget for two weeks prior to adoption, adding that he would like to address questions raised in a recent newspaper article. He explained that due to the vacancy of the Director of Administration position, he has assumed the duties of that position, explaining that the Department still has an employee he supervises. He stated that the increase in the Mayor/Director of Administration budget is the reflection of a request to replace the computer server system, explaining that the current system has aged beyond being able to be covered. He stated that $150,000.00 has been budgeted to replace antiquated server equipment, which will only be expended if the situation warrants immediate action. He related that the budget for the Fire Department did increase this year, noting the omission for the purchase of a new fire truck as compared to last year. He then pointed out mandatory expenditures for the 911 Emergency Response Center, explaining that the 911 system is changing and operations have to be compatible. He explained that there would be sizable mandatory equipment replacements in that Department in order to remain compatible. He related that the appearance of a $54,000.00 increase in the Drug Task Force is actually a reflection of confiscated funds during the year, which are dedicated funds that can only be used in drug enforcement. He pointed out an increase in the Public Works area, explaining that the City is hiring new employees. He noted that the City Council authorized the hiring of a new Code Enforcement Officer, explaining that adding a new employee would require a new vehicle that would most likely go to the senior member of that Department, as well as a computer for that employee. 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. He stated that the hiring is a direct response to the City Council request that enforcement efforts be increased to help monitor unsightly issues in the City and to have an additional person available for building and permit inspections to assure that it is performed in the proper amount of time. He reported that there was no increase in the health insurance premiums from the Municipal League this year even though the claim cost is higher than the premium cost. He added that the City has been given six months to try and improve the imbalance in claim to premium cost, explaining that there would be a premium increase in July if the claim cost does not decrease. He explained that the Contingency Fund is funded each year with $100,000.00 for emergencies, noting that last year there was no expenditures from that fund. He then added that, later in the meeting, he would be asking the City Council to consider an allocation for the Pulaski County Jail. He explained the implications regarding the uncertainty of gas and oil prices, relating that last year a 15% increase was projected and the prices actually rose 27%. He noted that the budget reflects an anticipation regarding those uncertainties. He stated that the overall budget is increasing somewhat, adding that raises are projected between a maximum of 3.5% and a minimum of $750.00. He noted that the $750.00 would be for employees who have reached the prevailing wage for their positions, adding that a percentage would be offered on a sliding scale depending on the standing of prevailing wage for that position. Finance Director Paul Mushrush addressed issues regarding the Emergency Medical Services Fund, explaining that the purpose of breaking out the Fund, in the opinion of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, is that it is an enterprise fund. He explained that the activities performed by the Fire Department paramedics constitute a “revenue for services provided.” He analogized that it mirrors the standards governing the Sanitation Fund, functioning to serve as a break-even revenue/expenditure fund. He stated that it was broken out as an accounting function from the Fire Department, explaining that the operation would remain the same. He stated that it also allows for tracking the amount of expenditures for those services and helps the public understand the amount of extra funding the service provides. Mayor Swaim noted that the Police and Fire LOPFI pension plans are not optional but are State mandated; explaining that this year the Police plan increased from 12.48% to 16.22% and the Fire plan increased from 11.6% to 15.8%. He then related that APPERS and the Judge’s retirement 3 remained the same at 18%. He noted that in looking at salaries you have to realize that a large percent is directly related to retirement and health insurance. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. He stated that the budget reflects increases in the Sales Tax from both the County and the City. He stated that those increases are being used to offset growth and expenditures, adding that retirement benefits are becoming very difficult to fund when you consider 12% to 16% of the payroll is retirement benefits. He added that the City does not have an option as an unfunded State mandate, describing it as an uncontrollable cost that must be met. In response to a question posed by Alderman Howard, Mayor Swaim noted an anticipated increase of .03 in postage. Mayor Swaim noted that 79% of monies into the Street Fund come from Gasoline Tax and is not mixed with the General Fund. He continued that the second largest income is the County Road Tax at 14%. He reviewed the revenue sources, noting that 72% of the income is derived from Sales Taxes with the next highest being intergovernmental transfers and the remainder is minimal for the other funds. He continued that public safety is 63% of budget expenditures, which represents the two largest Departments, Police and Fire. He added that Parks and Recreation is a close third in total volume. He stated that the City of Jacksonville compares well with other municipalities regarding distribution of funds among Departments. He then noted that 75% of the total budget is dedicated to personnel purposes, including health insurance, retirement plans and any benefit packages. He stated that the entire budget is 14 million and nearly 10 million is spent on personnel expenditures. He asked that the City Council study the budget and act at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPOINTMENT(S): ADVERTISING & PROMOTIONS COMMISSION Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to approve the appointment of Mike Houchen to serve the un-expired term of Bart Gray, Jr. to expire 3/31/2009. MOTION CARRIED. ADDENDUM TO THE AGENDA: $25,000.00 Allocation to Pulaski County Jail Mayor Swaim asked that the City Council suspend the rules to consider the allocation of $25,000.00 from the 2005 Contingency Fund as the City of Jacksonville’s share regarding the negotiated agreement between the County and the cities to keep an additional 80-bed pod open in the County Jail. 4 Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to suspend the rules and place the item on the agenda. MOTION CARRIED. Alderman Howard moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to approve the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the 2005 Contingency Fund to the Pulaski County Jail. MOTION CARRIED. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 P.M. – 7:20 P.M. ANNOUNCEMENT(S): Mayor Swaim reminded the City Council that pre- registration for the Arkansas Municipal League Meeting held in January in Little Rock begins next week. Five-Mile Development Jurisdiction Alderman Stroud related that need to formulate a committee within the next few months to work with the Planning Commission regarding development standards with the five-mile jurisdiction outside the City limits. Mayor Swaim asked that anyone wishing to serve on the committee contact himself or Alderman Stroud following the meeting. Lighting Ceremony Mayor Swaim noted the success of the lighting ceremony and expressed his appreciation to the Public Works and Street Department crews who work to make that possible. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Swaim without objection adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:20 p.m. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR TOMMY SWAIM City Clerk-Treasurer 5